 Collette Photography |
do wedding photographers so much more? Ok, I have been trying to get my prices set for doing portrait photography, so I researched other photographers in my area, and they charge a whole lot less than I thought. They charge anywere from $60-$120 for a sitting fee, then the reprints are like an 8x10- $10-$50 so how do they make enough? Do they really make that much with just the reprints ordered? Im so confused, wedding photographers make so much, and then I see that portrait photographers olny make like $100 for the sitting fee, is there something im missing? Any responses would be aprectiated, I have to do a senoir portrait shoot for a friend her in a couple of weeks and they need the prices, so I have to figure this out. thanks, -Collette-
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Kerry L. Walker |
I think you are confused, the confusion being between what someone charges and what they actually make. The portrait photographer may charge $100.00 for a sitting fee but they spend a lot less time shooting the portrait than a wedding photographer spends shooting a wedding. Therefore, they can shoot more in a day. I can't speak for your area but where I live, the portrait photographers have a much higher gross profit than the wedding photographers do, for the product they provide (number of prints). They also have a much higher overhead so they need that higher gross profit to cover it. Don't set your prices strictly based on what others charge. You will need to charge less starting out than you will when you get established.
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Collette Photography |
Thanks Kerry, Yeah I was confused, people must order more in reprints than I think!!! -Collette-
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Kerry L. Walker |
Just like a wedding, it varies from customer to customer.
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Scott J. Gianchetta |
I shoot both weddings and portraits and if I had to go with one it would be portraits in a heartbeat. Some think that wedding photographers make more but there is so much more time involved in weddings. A portrait session can consist of an hour to two hours and result in anywhere from 500 to 1000 in prints at average prices. As Kerry stated there is much more overhead for studio costs and such with portraiture but I think you come out better in the long run with more business. Also you should start low while getting established but after a while you will realize that your work is more valuable than your prices and you will raise them to a competitive level for your quality vs. others quality. Take care, Scott
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Collette Photography |
Thanks guys, Im headed up tomarrow for me first shoot, im doing senior portaits for a guy, so I guess I must have set the right prices!! It will also be nice to get a feel for how much people order in prints! Thanks again -Collette-
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anonymous |
Collette, not sure about most others, but I get some people who will order $$$ worth of reprints, and others who won't order any, I think it depends on their financial situation especially considering Photography is a luxury product not a necessity.
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